This special about Women's Studies is based on studies related to feminist literature criticism, in an effort to renew manners of science and social practice which are experienced and theoretically reflected. With the following articles: 'A wild patience has brought us this far : Einleitung zum Themenschwerpunkt' by Gisela Ecker : 'Zur Theorie und Praxis feministischer Lesarten : am Beispiel von Jane Austens Romanen' by Natascha Würzbach : 'Auf der Jagd nach der poetischen Sprache : Anmerkungen zu Emily Dickinsons Gedicht My life had stood - a Loaded Gun - ' by Margret Brügman : 'Von milden Meerjungfrauen und wilden Wasserweibern : zur Imagination des Weiblichen als angel und monster' by Anna Maria Stuby : 'Lexikalisches Stichwort : feministische Forschung/Frauenforschung' by Gabriela Schaaf : 'Towards a feminist cultural studies : middleclass femininity and fiction in post second world war Britain' by Alison Light : 'Is pop just a joke? Some thoughts on heroic guitars, teenage screams and men in frocks' by Irene Guy : 'Feminism and post-structuralism' by Chris Weedon : 'Spiel und Zorn : zu einer feministischen Praxis der Dekonstruktion' by Gisela Ecker : '>The bluest eye< and >Black eyed Susans< - teaching black women's literature' by Marion Kraft : 'Why are you interested in Women's literature? Or, when men teach women's literature' by Lawrence Guntner : 'Liberation Ices' by Lindiwe Masuwa : 'Meridian : desire developes and edge. A splintered reading' by Sabine Bröck : 'Back to the future : Margaret Atwood's anti-Utopian vision in The Handmaid's Tale' by Reingard M. Nischik : 'Lesereisen durch Anna's Country' by Hinrike Gronewold : and 'Die subversive Durchsetzungskraft des Weiblichen' by Susanne Kölsch.